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Goethe-Institut Rīga

The Goethe-Institute is a cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. We promote knowledge of the German language abroad and actively foster international cultural cooperation.

We are striving to convey a comprehensive picture of Germany by providing information on Germany's cultural, social and political life.
Through our network of Goethe-Institutes, Goethe Centres, cultural societies and reading rooms, alongside our examination and language learning centres, we perform the principal tasks of cultural and educational policy abroad. We work in partnership with public and private cultural bodies, the German federal states and municipalities, and the corporate sector. We draw on the rich variety of our many-faceted open society and Germany's lively culture.

We combine the experiences and conceptions of our partners in Germany and abroad with our professional skills and engage in a dialogue rooted in partnership. In doing so, we function as service providers and partners for everyone taking an active interest in Germany and the German language and culture, and act independently with no political affiliations. We face the cultural policy challenges of globalisation and develop innovative concepts for a world made more human through mutual understanding, where cultural diversity is seen as an asset.

In May 1990, the Republic of Latvia declared its independence. In 1992, the Goethe-Institut commenced its work in Rīga as the first Goethe-Institute in the Baltic States. The Goethe-Institut in Rīga has two principal tasks: to promote the German language learning and to strengthen German-Latvian cultural cooperation.

Beside German language courses, the Goethe-Institut Rīga organises a number of various cultural events: conferences, colloquiums, lectures, discussions, film shows (with seminars), photography and art exhibitions, theatrical performances, dancing, creative workshops and concerts. Well-known German and Latvian artists and scholars have taken part in these events. Newspapers, radio and television have closely followed the work of the Goethe-Institut in Latvia. Ever since the Goethe-Institut launched its activities in Rīga, the institute has offered all-round information and discussion opportunities and promoted a manifold image of Germany and its culture through a diverse range of topical programmes,.

The library of the Goethe-Institute Rīga provides information on the cultural, social and economic life in Germany. The offer comprises printed sources and audio-visual materials, including the leading daily and weekly newspapers. By means of an electronic catalogue, it is possible to get information on all the media offered. The visitors also have access to online databases. Further information is offered by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Rīga on its website.

The Goethe-Institute Rīga regularly runs creative workshops and teacher training seminars for teachers of German as a foreign language. We offer a programme of tailor-made German language courses gathering up to 1000 participants on a yearly basis. This offer also includes an extensive programme of German language proficiency exams.